by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 23, 2026

2026 Women Of Power Honoree And Multifaceted Finance Exec Carla Harris Is A Champion For Women Business Leaders

Harris is being recognized at Black Enterprise's 2026 Women of Power Summit this March.

Carla Harris is a master of many trades, lending her wide-ranging business expertise to elevate the finance sector.

As a BLACK ENTERPRISE 2026 Women Of Power Summit honoree, Harris is being recognized as a dynamic force in her industry. The current senior client advisor at Morgan Stanley is transitioning to a new era in her decades-long work, signing off on her tenure as a vice chairman and managing director at the financial firm.

Since joining Morgan Stanley in 1987, Harris has managed the IPOs of multibillion-dollar businesses and has also served as Chair of the Board of the Morgan Stanley Foundation. In her storied career, the self-proclaimed “Wall Street Veteran” executed billions of dollars of equity for major corporations, emerging as a strategic leader in her field.

The Harvard College and Harvard Business School alumna has also uplifted fellow women business leaders, currently serving as chair of the National Women’s Business Council. The career mentor continues to provide knowledge and guidance across multiple philanthropic ventures, including the Food Bank for NYC, Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, and other nonprofits.

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A post shared by Carla Harris : Career Mentor (@carlaannharris)

Beyond finance and philanthropy, Harris’s passions also lie in gospel music. The best-selling artist has released four commercial projects while performing across world-famous venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theater.

As a financial advisor, artist, and author, Harris also penned multiple books to help corporate professionals succeed in their fields. The series, “Expect to Win” (2009), “Strategize to Win” (2014), and “Lead to Win (2022) have also helped shape her public speaking career, which also includes her Webby Award-winning podcast, “Access & Opportunity with Carla Harris.”

The advocate and financial strategist has built her own brand that breaks the ceiling for diverse leaders. As she continues her support of women business professionals while pursuing her talents in public speaking and gospel music, Harris remains a pivotal figure in the finance industry and global business at large.

As BE’s Women of Power Summit is set to recognize her this March, Harris continues to prove her business prowess while uplifting others. Registration for the time-honored event is available now.

RELATED CONTENT: Women Of Power 2026

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 23, 2026

ICYMI: Baltimore’s ‘House Of Melo’ Ends After Exhibit’s Extension

The exhibit celebrated the former New York Knicks player throughout his early years in the city and beyond

The honors bestowed upon former NBA player Carmelo Anthony continue after an exhibit dedicated to him in Maryland, which just closed after debuting in October and was scheduled to close in December, but was extended until Jan. 16.

The celebration for the NBA Hall of Famer (who was recently inducted into the 2025 class), who had stints with the Denver Nuggets, the New York Knicks, and other teams before ending his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was in honor of the Brooklyn-born, Baltimore-raised former basketball player and businessman.

The interactive “House of Melo” exhibit took place at the Pratt Library.

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A post shared by Enoch Pratt Free Library (@prattlibrary)

When the exhibit announcement was made, Anthony acknowledged “Charm City” as the place that “helped shape” who he is today.

“Baltimore didn’t just raise me-it instilled in me the grit and perseverance I carried throughout my career. The community there helped shape who I am today. I want people to really feel that-to see the heart of the city through my story and be inspired to give back, uplift others, and never forget where they came from,” said Anthony.

People who visited the library to check out the “House of Melo” were treated to immersive installations featuring audio points (anchored by Anthony Anthony and D. Watkins, who co-authored Anthony’s 2021 memoir, Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised: A Memoir of Survival and Hope) on pivotal moments throughout his legendary career. It highlighted memories from his early upbringing in Baltimore, when he moved to the city after his father’s death when he was eight, through his teenage years as he built his basketball resume at Towson Catholic. From there, he headed to Oak Hill Academy before he led Syracuse University to its only national championship. What followed, of course, was an illustrious NBA career, with many intricacies about his life in between all of those moments.

Visitors to the House of Melo were treated to various collectibles and items that helped tell the story of Anthony’s history, including a full-sized basketball court with Anthony’s words echoing from 23-foot-tall columns, bleachers, and court line details. An “early years” walkway featured memories from Red Hook to Syracuse, where curated pictures and memorabilia from Carmelo’s youth were displayed, preparing him for the world stage. The exhibit also inlcuded 41 album covers from Anthony’s collection, with a narrative about meaningful songs along his journey, and a custom playlist curated by Anthony. There were many other memorabilia and moments that fans discovered while visiting the library.

by Kandiss Edwards

January 23, 2026

Michelle Obama Is An Opp When It Comes To A Third Barack Presidency

Obama said the nation should seek leaders with fresh ideas and diverse experiences

Former First Lady Michelle Obama said she would actively oppose the idea of her husband, Barack Obama, running for a hypothetical third presidential term.

Appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast with host Alex Cooper, Obama was asked how she would feel if former President Obama considered a third White House run in a scenario where term limits were changed.

Obama quickly answered, “I hope not. I would actively work against that.”

Obama, 62, said in the interview that leaving the presidency after two terms allows room for “new vision” and “new energy.” She argued a popular position amongst many younger voters, that the country is evolving rapidly. Evolution requires change and new perspectives on new ever-evolving issues.

“This is a hard job, and it requires new energy, new vision all the time,” she told Cooper.

Her comments come as political discourse includes jokes and speculation from some figures about changing the 22nd Amendment. It currently bars any person from being elected to more than two terms as president. The amendment’s prohibition applies to both current and former presidents. Donald Trump, currently in office, has commented on suspending elections, being a dictator, and running a third term. However, the 22nd Amendment deems an election bid by Trump, Obama, or any two-term president impermissible.

Obama also addressed other questions about leadership and generational change. She said the nation should seek leaders with fresh ideas and diverse experiences as it confronts evolving challenges, telling Cooper that the pace of social and technological transformation requires open-minded approaches to problem-solving.

The former first lady had previously acknowledged that persistent gender biases remain in national politics. She noted that qualified women, such as Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris, have not yet won the presidency. Both women lost despite strong credentials and campaigns. She reiterated that interest groups and voters alike must continue working to foster opportunities and representation at the highest levels of government.

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 23, 2026

U.S. Government Threatens To Take Action If ‘In Charge’ Haitian Politicians Block Stabilization Plans

Since Haiti’s last elected president, Jovenel Moïse, was killed in July 2021, the Caribbean nation has suffered from political turmoil as gangs have wrought violent havoc on the country.

The U.S. government says it will take action against the troubled political council “in charge” if they try to destabilize the country of Haiti, as pressure builds for the unelected leaders to host elections for the first time in 10 years, the Associated Press reports.

In a memo once posted on X, the Embassy of the United States in the capital city of Port-au-Prince warns against any plans to interject on the plan. “The United States would consider that any person who supports such a destabilizing initiative, which favors the gangs, would be acting against the interests of the United States, the region, and the Haitian people, and will take appropriate measures accordingly,” the statement said.

Since Haiti’s last elected president Jovenel Moïse was killed in July 2021, the Caribbean nation has suffered from political turmoil as gangs have wrought violent havoc on the country. The country’s government council was responsible for quickly selecting a prime minister to bring some stability, resulting in Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé becoming the third person to serve in that capacity.

However, the memo comes as the council has been at odds with Fils-Aimé for undisclosed reasons. As the prime minister has yet to speak on the issue, council leader Laurent Saint-Cyr released a statement saying he opposes any move to push against government stability prior to Feb. 7 — the deadline by which the group is scheduled to step down.

“As major institutional deadlines for the Nation approach, any initiative likely to fuel instability, confusion, or a breakdown of trust carries serious risks for the country,” he wrote.

“Haiti cannot afford to make unilateral decisions or engage in short-sighted political calculations that would compromise the stability and continuity of the State, as well as the well-being of the already sorely tested population.”

As the council held a Jan. 23 meeting behind closed doors, critics suggest members are plotting to stay in power past the identified date, leaving room for new rounds of violent protests, according to ABC News.

As the U.S. is threatening to send migrants back to Haiti amid Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections scheduled to be canceled Feb. 3, lawmakers such as U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fl.) are speaking out in hopes the prospect of uprising violence will dial back deportations. “Haiti is not safe. Deporting families back into gang violence and chaos is cruel and reckless. I stand with our Haitian community and demand that TPS be protected!” she wrote on X.

Haiti is not safe. Deporting families back into gang violence and chaos is cruel and reckless. I stand with our Haitian community and demand that TPS be protected! pic.twitter.com/DcnNfANrlx
— Rep. Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) January 21, 2026

As a new report from the United Nations projects divisions “over the transitional governance architecture that is to lead the country to elections,” the special representative of the U.N. Secretary General in Haiti, Carlos Ruiz-Massieu, assured during a meeting that the days of political manipulation are over. “Haiti has entered a critical phase in its process of restoring democratic institutions,” Ruiz-Massieu said.

“Let’s be clear: the time for political maneuvering is over.”

by Jameelah Mullen

January 23, 2026

Jamaican Company Donates $100M Toward Hurricane Melissa Recovery

Charity starts at home.

United Way of Jamaica (UWJ) received a $100 million donation from a fintech company, JETS. The charitable organization stated that it will allocate 100% of the funds for Hurricane Mellissa relief efforts.

Dr. Devon Smith, Chair of the UWJ board of directors, praised JETS for its generous gift, which he said is the organization’s largest donation ever. The organization says it aims to prioritize helping Jamaica’s most vulnerable residents with the funds.

“This donation impacts not only in terms of the infrastructure, but shows how JETS is ensuring the stability and resilience of the education system,” Smith said during the ceremonial check hand-over ceremony, as reported by the Jamaica Observer.

Through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund, JETS will donate $50 million to each of its eight beneficiaries. The first round of funding recipients includes Belmont Academy, St. Elizabeth Technical High School, William Knibb Memorial High School, Hampton School, Black River High School, Manning’s School, Mustard Seed Communities, and the UWJ’s agricultural relief program. Organizers will announce the recipients for the second phase of donations at a later date.

“We have appreciated working with United Way of Jamaica as the organisation is a stalwart ally and has made it possible for us to reach out to the wider society through our CSR program, especially with our focus on education and healthcare,” said JETS Chief Executive Officer Edmundo Jenez in a press release.

This isn’t the first time JETS has supported the organization. In 2024, the company provided its financial assistance for Hurricane Beryl relief efforts. The hurricane left an estimated $6.5 billion worth of damage in its wake, according to the U.N.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall on the island in late October 2025. The category 5 storm devastated the island with winds reaching 185 miles per hour and rainfall of 18 to 24 inches. The World Bank estimates that the catastrophic storm caused physical damage totaling US$8.8 billion. The storm resulted in 54 deaths in Jamaica and an estimated 43 in Haiti.

Bank of America, employee, disabled client

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 22, 2026

2 Men Plead Guilty To 2012 Killing Of Corey Stingley, Family Supports Restorative Justice Resolution

Two men have pleaded guilty in the 2012 death of Corey Stingley but will not serve jail time.

After 13 years, a family’s quest for justice in the killing of 16-year-old Corey Stingley has ended with two guilty pleas by way of a restorative justice resolution.

A Milwaukee judge accepted a plea deal earlier this month, allowing Robert W. Beringer and Jesse R. Cole to plead guilty to felony murder without serving jail time for their roles in Stingley’s death, ProPublica reported. The men, along with a third who died in 2022, restrained Stingley during a shoplifting incident involving a $12 bottle of alcohol.

“What happened to Corey Stingley should have never happened. His death was unnecessary, brutal, and devastating,” Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne told the judge in a letter filed with the court.

The Stingley case unfolded over more than a year of discussions. Former Milwaukee County Chief Judge Mary Triggiano, who leads Marquette University Law School’s Andrew Center for Restorative Justice, said the process reshapes how cases are resolved by requiring an outcome both sides agree to.

“Restorative justice is not for everyone. It is voluntary on both parts,” Triggiano said.

As part of the deal, Cole and Beringer must each donate $500 to a charity selected by the Stingley family. If they remain law-abiding for six months, the case will be dismissed. The deferred prosecution agreement was approved by Stingley’s family, whose parents spoke directly to the judge during an emotional hour-long hearing attended by relatives, community activists, faith leaders, and former classmates.

“Corey was my baby. A mother is not supposed to bury her child,” Alicia Stingley told the judge.

After the hearing, Corey Stingley’s mother embraced Beringer, while the family’s surviving son, Cameron, shook hands with both men. During the proceedings, Corey’s father, Craig Stingley, said his 13-year fight for justice “has turned into triumph.”

“After a situation, a tragedy, you want–you want somebody to pay for it,” he said. “I don’t think we really understand what that means until some time has gone away, and that loved one you had – you start to understand that’s not going to bring them back, but it will damage you.”

Microsoft Investigates Widespread 365 Outage Impacting Outlook And Teams In North America

by Keka Araújo

January 22, 2026

Microsoft Investigates Widespread 365 Outage Impacting Outlook And Teams In North America

This disruption follows a separate, brief outage reported on Jan. 21, which Microsoft attributed to a third-party networking issue.

Microsoft is investigating a significant service disruption that impacted thousands of users across its Microsoft 365 suite on Jan. 22. The outage primarily affected core productivity tools, including Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Defender, and Microsoft Purview.

Reports of service issues began to surge around 1:15 p.m. EST, with more than 11,000 users logging disruptions on the tracking site DownDetector by 2:15 p.m. Some users on the Microsoft User Forum reported connectivity problems as early as 11:00 a.m.

Microsoft, Teams, products, outage — Photo Courtesy of Screenshot

“There is an unreported Microsoft Office 365/Exchange Online issue right now… Emails are going out slowly, nothing incoming,” one user shared on X.

Microsoft formally acknowledged the incident via its 365 Status account on X at 1:37 p.m., confirming an investigation into issues affecting security and compliance tools and standard office applications.

“We’re investigating a potential issue impacting multiple Microsoft 365 services, including Outlook, Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Purview. Further information can be found in the admin center under MO1221364,” the company shared on X.

We're investigating a potential issue impacting multiple Microsoft 365 services, including Outlook, Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Purview. Further information can be found in the admin center under MO1221364.
— Microsoft 365 Status (@MSFT365Status) January 22, 2026

Shortly after, at 2:17 p.m., Microsoft identified the source of the failure: “We’ve identified a portion of service infrastructure in North America that is not processing traffic as expected. We’re working to restore the infrastructure to a healthy state to achieve recovery.”

By 2:53 p.m., the technology giant provided an update, noting that support staff were “continuing to review what actions are required to restore the affected infrastructure to a healthy state and rebalance the service traffic.”

For many users, the disruption manifested as an inability to send or receive emails, with some receiving a “451 4.3.2 temporary server issue” error message. By 4:14 p.m. EST, Microsoft indicated progress, stating it had “restored the affected infrastructure to a healthy state,” though it warned that “further load balancing is required to mitigate impact.”

We're rebalancing traffic across all affected infrastructure to ensure the environment enters into a balanced state. We’re proceeding as quickly as possible and this approach will help us identify any additional actions needed for recovery. More info can be found at…
— Microsoft 365 Status (@MSFT365Status) January 22, 2026

This disruption follows a separate, brief outage reported on Jan. 21, which Microsoft attributed to a third-party networking issue. Engineers are currently working to rebalance traffic to alternate infrastructure to mitigate the ongoing impact on North American tenants.

by Kandiss Edwards

January 22, 2026

San Antonio Mural Honoring Victims Of Police Brutality Defaced On MLK Day

A San Antonio mural honoring Black people killed by local law enforcement was defaced on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The vandalism was discovered Jan. 19 at the Greater Faith Institutional Church, located at 3514 Martin Luther King Drive. Black spray paint covered many of the faces and names on the mural.

The tribute titled, “Say Their Names” was completed in March 2025. Artist David Blanca’s creation, in collaboration with surviving family members and ACT 4 SA, stood as a memorial and a backdrop for San Antonio’s annual MLK Day march. The march honors the civil rights legacy and embraces the inclusivity San Antonio claims to value.

The defacement prompted outrage from family members and community advocates. “Say Their Names,” a mural on the East Side, was created to commemorate 14 residents who died in interactions with law enforcement or in-custody deaths, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

A San Antonio nonprofit is raising money to fix an East Side mural after someone vandalized it on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, defacing the images of people killed by law enforcement.

The "Say Their Names" mural on Martin Luther King Drive is a memorial to those who advocates… pic.twitter.com/BCEFf2XJr1
— San Antonio Express-News (@ExpressNews) January 20, 2026

Family members and community leaders called the act deliberate and hateful, especially given the symbolic date of the vandalism.

Texas Public Radio spoke with Mel Naton, mother of Marquise Jones’s child, who spoke about the “disrespect” of the defacement. Jones was a victim of law enforcement and is memorialized in the mural.

“The fact that they did it on Martin Luther King Day adds more insult to injury, because these people, these are their loved ones, their significant others. … This is their memory,” Naton said.

The mural was intended to humanize those memorialized by depicting their faces and names. The vandalism struck at the heart of that purpose. Ananda Tomas, executive director of ACT 4 SA, said the specific damage appeared intentional and tied to prejudice.

“The fact that they went after the names and they went after the faces means they knew exactly what they were doing, and it was targeted,” Tomas said. “I think it is racism. I think it is bigotry,” she added.

San Antonio leaders have said they plan to restore the mural and are fundraising for repairs, noting that the project cost about $20,000 to complete.

Grand Rapids, Settlement, Girl, 11, Handcuffed, police

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 22, 2026

Atlanta Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty To Ponzi Scheme That Netted $380M

He pled guilty to defrauding more than 2,000 investors between September 2020 and June 2024

An Atlanta financial advisor, Todd Burkhalter, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after defrauding more than 2,000 investors out of approximately $380 million in a Ponzi scheme.

According to the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, the founder and chief executive officer of Drive Planning LLC, a financial advisory group based in Georgia, will be sentenced at a later date for his crime. The government is recommending a 17-and-a-half-year prison sentence when he faces U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson.

Another executive from Drive Planning, David Bradford, the former chief operating officer, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Dec. 16, 2025, for his involvement in the scheme. He has a sentencing hearing scheduled for Mar. 17, 2026.

“Todd Burkhalter perpetrated what is likely the largest Ponzi scheme in Georgia history,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg in a written statement. “Unbelievably, Burkhalter shamelessly continued to scam his victims even while under federal investigation. Today’s guilty plea is just the first step in holding Burkhalter accountable for the considerable harm he caused.”

The scheme took place between September 2020 and June 2024, during which Drive Planning offered prospective investors several investment opportunities, including the “Real Estate Acceleration Loan” (“REAL”) and the “Cash Out Real Estate Fund” (“CORE Fund”). Burkhalter informed them that it was “easy and simple” and that they did not need to be accredited investors to participate, while encouraging them to invest from retirement accounts, savings, and lines of credit.

Investigators said Burkhalter told investors that they could be guaranteed a 10% return every three months, while also stating that the company offered short-term loans—the bridge loans—to real estate developers who needed quick cash flow to complete projects or to fund new ones. Burkhalter directed his company to prepare fraudulent “collateral sheets” identifying properties, some of which were fake, with fictitious valuations that purportedly served as collateral for investments.

With the fraudulent scheme, Drive Planning, while bilking its investors, Burkhalter used some of the funds for personal use, including:

$2 million to purchase a yacht
$2.1 million as part of the purchase of a luxury condo in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
$800,000 on multiple luxury vehicles, including a 2020 Prevost Marathon motorcoach and two 2024 Land Rovers
Millions of dollars on luxury travel, including chartering private jets
$320,000 on clothing, jewelry, and beauty treatments.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 22, 2026

White Couple Sues Florida IVF Clinic After Giving Birth To Baby That Isn’t Genetically Theirs

A Florida couple is suing an IVF clinic after giving birth to a child who is not genetically theirs.

A Florida couple is suing a local fertility clinic after undergoing IVF at the center and giving birth to a child who is genetically not theirs.

In a lawsuit filed Jan. 9 in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, a couple identified as John and Jane Doe claim they began treatment at the Fertility Center of Orlando in March 2025 but were allegedly implanted with the wrong embryo, Click Orlando reported. According to the documents, the woman, described as Caucasian, gave birth in early December to a baby girl who reportedly has the appearance of a non-Caucasian child.

“Tragically, while both Jane Doe and John Doe are racially Caucasian, Baby Doe displayed the physical appearance of a racially non-Caucasian child,” the lawsuit reads.

The couple said the discovery led them to pursue genetic testing, which confirmed that the baby is not biologically related to either parent.

“Of equal concern to the (couple) is the obvious possibility that someone else was implanted with one or more of their embryos and… is presently parenting one or more of their children,” the lawsuit states.

While the couple said they would willingly care for the baby, they believe she should be placed with her biological parents if possible. Court records indicate they reached out to the Longwood clinic to coordinate a reunion, but received no response.

“It is unimaginable how such mistakes could have happened, and it is inexcusable how the doctor and clinic responsible for those mistakes could be running from the consequences of their reckless conduct,” an attorney for the couple said. “It is a mystery why they are refusing to voluntarily cooperate in trying to undo the mess they have created, but that refusal has required us to seek emergency court intervention and may soon require a broad public appeal for help.”

Their lawsuit seeks several remedies:

Require the clinic to disclose what happened with their embryos to prevent similar mistakes.
Cover genetic testing costs for patients and children over the past five years.
Publicly report any discrepancies in parentage for children born through the clinic.

The couple hopes the case will force the clinic to provide transparency and clarity for all affected families.

“The heartbreaking and unexplained in vitro fertilization errors described in our recently filed lawsuit remain unresolved,” the couple’s attorney said. “While our clients continue to fall more deeply in love with a beautiful little girl who is someone else’s child, they are also living with the unbearable knowledge that there may be one or more of their own children unknowingly in the care of strangers.”